Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-02-25


that"
NO, no; for myself. 1 WANT
want-two hundred pounds" she said.
jerking it out She did not dare to
say three.
He put down the pen, and turned to-
ward her in displeasure. Selma, J
told you before we came to town that
! could not have these calls upon me.
as l had last year. You know how
very small our income is, and you
know that your extravaganza has al
ready crippled it. The allowance 1
make you is greater than l can afford;
l can not give you more"
"Oh. Oscar. must have it." she ex-
claimed, in excitement, terrified ut the
aspect her situation presented to her.
Indeed l must, even at an incOnve-
nience."
ITO squander away in folly!"
"No. If it were only to squander
away, might do without it, and l can
not do witrout this"
Mr.. Dalrymple looked kecnly at her,
and she shrank from his gaze. Let
me know what you want it for, that
may Judge of the necessity you speak
of. If this is inconvenient to you, Sc
lima, you must be satisfied with my re-
fusal."
"Well. them" she said, goaded into
the avowal. Il owe it"
"Cxe it! Owe two hundred pounds!
YOU"
So utter was his establishment. SO
blank his diSmay, that Selma shuddered
inwardly. If her owing two hundred
thus impressed him, what would be-
come of her if ever he learned the
whole truth
"And am pressed for it," she faint
ly added. Pray let me have it, Oscar"
What have you gone in debt fore p"
Various Things, sne answered, not
caring to avow particulars. But he
looked steadfastly at her, waiting for
the truth. "Dress''
1.-The compact between us was that
you should not go in debt" he said. in
q severe tone. You have behaved i'll
to me, Selma"
She bent her head, feeling that she
had; oh, feeling it terribly. just then.
us this all you owe? Alp"
"Ye-es." But the falsehood, as
falsehoods ought, trembled at her lips.
Without speaking another word, he
unsealed apaper in which were inclosed
some bank-notes, and handed several
to her, to the amount of two hundred
pounds. understand me well, Selma,
this must never occur again. These
notes had different and urgent desti-
nation"
What an idiot was not to ask for
the other hundredn' was her mental
comment, as she escaped from the
room. II wonder whether Alice could
lend it to me?"
She next applied to her sister. but
Alice could not assist her. And night
came on, and she went to rest, no fur
Their advanced than before.
To rest! 1t was mockery of the
word. Mrs Dalrymple passed it, part
ly in tossing and turning from side to
side, partly in pacing another room
rs her husband had told Alice he had
known her to do; and when morning
came and she arose, it was with tremb-
ling limbs, parched throat and fevered
brain.
Her whole anxiety was to make up
this money, three hundred pounds; hop
ing that it would prove q stop-gap for
the milliner, and persuaded that it would
be useless to offer less. What was to
come afterward, and how further STOP
gaps would be supplied, she did not
now glance at. That evil seemed q
hundred and fifty miles off. compared
with this.
Afaint idea had been looming through
her mind. At the commencement it
had neither shape nor form, but by mid
day it had acquired one and was enter
tanned. She had heard of such things
as pledging jewels; she was sure she
had heard that even noble ladies, driven
to a pinch, so disposed of them. Mrs.
Dalrymple locked her bedroom door
and reached out hers, and laid them in
a heap on the bed.
She began to estimate their value:
she reckoned up what they had cost tc
buy; as nearly as she could remember
and judge. it amounted to full five hun
dred pounds. She supposed she might
be able to borrow four hundred upon
them; and she decided to do it. Then,
If that harry of a French marchande
de modes was not pacified with q small
sum, she should have larger to offer
her. Yes, and get the things for the
wedding breakfast besides.
The relief this determination brought
to the mind of Selma Dalrymple few,
never reduced to q similar strait, can
picture. 1t almost took away her
weight of care. The job of pledging
them would not be pleasant one, but
she must 60 through with it herself.
she had no one to trust. The glittering
ornaments were still displayed upon
the bed when she heard footsteps ap-
preaching the room, and some one
knocked and called to her. She grew
scared and terrified; for . troubled
conscience sees shadows where no
shadows are, and hers whispered that
curious eyes, looking on those or
naments, must divine what she meant
to do with them-whether the eyes
were those of husband, maid or sister;
and she thought it was her sisters
voice who now asked for admittance.
With hasty hand she threw a dress
upon the bed. and then another upon the
first. and then heavy one over all.
The shining stones were hidden now.
To be Continued.